TITLE:
Prevalence of Children Vaccinated against Viral Hepatitis B in Brazzaville
AUTHORS:
Lucie Charlotte Ollandzobo Ikobo, Farrèche Colombe Missidi, Hostaud Bienvenu Atipo-Ibara, Arnaud Mongo Onkouo, Clausina Philestine Ahoui Apendi, Jile Florent Mimiesse, Blaise Irénée Atipo Ibara
KEYWORDS:
Prevalence, Vaccination, Viral Hepatitis B, Child, Brazzaville
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Pediatrics,
Vol.14 No.2,
March
27,
2024
ABSTRACT:
Introduction: Viral hepatitis B (VHL) is a public health
problem, particularly in sub-Sahara Africa. The aim of this study was to assess
vaccination coverage against HBV in children
in Brazzaville. Patients and Methods: This was a cross-sectional
analytical study conducted in Brazzaville health centres from January to September
2019. It involved children aged between six months and six years who received a
vaccination against HBV. Sampling was exhaustive and based on stratified
sampling. Results: The overall prevalence of children vaccinated against
HBV in Brazzaville was 96.2%. It was insufficient in the Talangai health
district (79%). The pentavalent vaccine was administered to 97.7% of children,
85% of whom had received all three doses. The reasons for incomplete
vaccination were parents’ ignorance of HVB (85.6%) and of vaccination (14.3%). Conclusion: Although the prevalence of
vaccinated children is high in Brazzaville, it is still insufficient in some
health districts, particularly Talangai, because parents are unaware of the
disease and of vaccination. Pentavalent is
the only vaccine available in the national vaccination programme, which
is why an effective national vaccination policy needs to be put in place.